New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-14
FALL OF AN ANCIENT HOUSE
1T GRADUALLY DROPPED TO PIECES.

YESTERDAY 1T CAME DOWN IN HEAP-NARROw
ESCAPE OF THE HIGGINsEs.
On tne southwest corner of Watts and Hudson sts s
houses that became ancient many ago. With
OH ago came weakness and this increased until the
row was In totterng condition and wagon passing in
the street would shake up the buildings much that
the tenants frequently looked at the walls, moments
y expecting to see them burst open. Yesterday what
had oeen long expected happened and Of tho walls
crunDied away Ike powder the other walls In the build
ing bulged outward and looked as II there going
to bc general smash-up The tenants werc warned
In time to escape, there would have serious loss
Of life.
No 22l Hudsonst is q twostOry brick house with an
atc Inc adjoining house. No 223 is four stories high.
No 23 towers above No. 221 and the north wall Of tho
larger building extended from tho slight
wall OF the smaller making single party wall between
the two houses The wall that made to sustain the
weight OF twostory building had to hold the weight Of the
additional two stories George Lane tobacconst with
his wife ana family occupy the entire house at No 221
In No 223 George F. Higgins the first floor as q
butcher store and lives with his wife and family the
second floor The third floor occupied by A. J. Powers,
his we ana three Children and the upper story by Mrs.
+. Webb. the mother-inlaw OF Mr. Powers.
Mr. Higgins has lived In tho building for the last twelve
years While during the last few years he had frequently
been impressed with the idea that the structure would
come down sometime, 1t was only about three months
ago that positive evidence shown that the party wall
was giving out and breaking beneath the weight 1t.
Tho floors In his house and the smaller began to sink
and slope toward the party wall. and everything doors
plumb: The floors became shaky, and had the appear
ance of an incpent tobOggan slide Mr. Budlong OF NO.
waberger OF No. 42i broadway tho agent OF tho John
Wenck estate. owners Of No 221 informed OF tho
paid the complaints further than collect the
rents regularly The Old buildings going to ruin,
The walls In Mr. Higeins's rooms became badly
cracked that his wife could the sight OF them and
several weeks ago Mr. Higgins set paperhangers at work
tn gloss over The display OF volcanic disturbance with
paper Ever since the walls have been covered there has
been sn ominous cracking sound In them This was the
especially after dark II was thought 10 he due 10
the walls having been sized with glue, and that II would
stop after awhile. But did not As matter OF fact tho
was cracked louder al the time and so much 80 as to
make everybody living In the houso nervous. Mr g.
want TO move away but at times 1t seemed to be dan
gerous place to live in.
All day on Saturday last tho plaster dropped
from the ceiling in small pieces In No: Z23.
The greatest shower OF chips fell In Mr.
Higinss place During the evening pieces OF the ceiling
large the pancake broke OF and dropped In
the most unceremonos manner in any part OF the house
This kept up all night Yesterday morning when Mr..
Higgins got up his house resembled q mortar yard.
Breakfast eaten while the plaster descended all
around Abont 10 half the ceiling In the front room
of the Higgins apartment came down with bang. At
this time a. walk upon the floor seemed TO shake the en-
tire building. Becoming alarmed, Mr.. Higgins lighted
camille and grOped his through the centurys accu-
mutation in the cellar There he found something that
caused him 10 flee In terror TO the street The bricks IN
the foundation Of the party wall were dropping Into the
cellar QUE by one and quickly too and the mortar be-
tween them little than powder.
IL would only be question OF few moments
when The wall would fall Mr.. Higgins up stairs and
got family TO the street and gave warning To the peo
plr1iying above him. Mr. LAM was told Of what was
going and he and h4 family fled 10 place OF safety
After all the people out the brick fell faster into
the cellar aud this continued until few minutes before
II o'clock Then there was tremendous crash and
cloud Of dust went skyward large portion OF the party
wall Lad fallen. and In few moments some more or
IL came and with II the floors and beams up 10 the
hir story 1he roof OF the small house did Lot fall but
inclined III the direction Of the weakened spot crowd
gathered the street expectation or seeing the entire
n tumble down. No other large section of wall FELL
but "a brick dropping now and then Indicated the DANCER
The fire department called and the chimney on NO
22l, which leaning was pulled down Ladders
put up against the standing walls To hold them IN
position ami they also braced In other ways stakes
driven and rope stretched as TO keep pedestrians
away from the building and policemen were stationed Al
the ruin keep people safe distance The os- u not
estimated 1t thought that the buildings VIII have TO
be torn down entirely aud rebuilt. considerable por
Of household goods Of the tenants Is destroyed
and II will be difficult to get the goods which are still III
tact % OF the buildings unnjurcd.
IL the accident had occurred at night MT higgins ana
family would have been wiped ont OF existence heavy
stove from upper story landed on the bed that Mr..
Higgins and his wife slept In and carcd II to the cellar